Hemādri Paṇḍita, popularly known as Hemāḍapanta, was a polymath and a prime minister from 1259 to 1274 CE during the reign of King Mahādev (1259–1271) and King Ramachandra (1271–1309) of the Seuna (Yadava) dynasty, which ruled the western and southern part of India. Hemadpant is also the creator of Hemadpanti architecture.[1][2]
Origin edit
Hemadri Pandit was born in a Deshastha Rigvedi Brahmin (DRB) family[3][4] that had its origin in the Hemadri village in the Dakshin Kannada District of Karnataka. As per other sources, Hemadri was born in the southern Kannada speaking regions of the Yadava kingdom in a Kannada Madhyadina Shaka Brahmin family.[5] His father, Kāmadeo, had brought him up in Maharashtra. In Hemadri's biography written by Keshav Appa Padhye, the author has mentioned that Hemadri was a Deshastha Rigvedi of Ashvalayana sutra and Vatsagotri (belonging to the Vatsa Gotra) Panchapravari brāhmaṇa (५: जामदग्ना वत्सास्तेषां पञ्चार्षेयो भार्गवच्यावनाप्नवानौर्वजामदग्नेति, ref. आश्वलायनश्रौतसूत्र). Padhye has mentioned the reference for this information to be the book authored by Hemadri himself, चतुर्वर्गचिंतामणि, or chaturvarga-chintāmaṇi.
Career edit
Hemadri was a diplomat, an administrator, an architect, a poet, and a theologian and scholar. During his prime ministership, the Yadav kingdom reached its zenith;[citation needed] soon after his tenure, the Turkic emperor at Delhi, Alāuddin Khalji, and his successors ended the Yadav rule in southwestern India.
Writings edit
- Hemadri wrote the encyclopedic book about dharma, Chaturvarga Chintāmaṇi. It contains, among other subjects, thousands of Vratas along with the modus operandi for performing them.
- He wrote the commentary Āyurveda Rasāyan on Ayurvedic Samhita "Ashtānga Hṛdayam", containing descriptions of various diseases and remedies for them.
- A small historical book, Hemādpanti Bakhar is credited to him.
- He created the Mestakas to standardize procedural sections of state administration.
Cultural contributions edit
- Hemadri introduced use of the Modi script for Marāthi (cursive style of writing Marathi) in government correspondence.
- He conceived of buildings and temples which did not use lime under his Hemadpanti architecture style.
- He introduced the plantation of pearl millet (Bājari) as a staple crop.
- He encouraged and supported many artists and writers like Bopadev and studied their books and presented his own criticism.
References edit
- ^ P. V. Kate (1987). Marathwada Under the Nizams, 1724-1948. Mittal Publications. p. 7. ISBN 9788170990178.
- ^ Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta Sastri (1966). A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar. Oxford University Press. p. 482.
- ^ Kāḷācyā paḍadyāāḍa , Volume 2. Marāṭhī Sāhitya Parishada. 1992. p. 373.
देवगिरी येथे रामचंद्रराव राजा राज्य करीत असता दमरदारीच्या कामावर हेमाद्री ऊर्फ हेमाडपंत' हा देशस्थ ऋग्वेदी ब्राह्मण काम करीत होता.
- ^ Religious Cultures in Early Modern India: New Perspectives. Routledge. 2014. ISBN 9781317982876.
- ^ Novetzke, Christian Lee (18 October 2016). The Quotidian Revolution: Vernacularization, Religion, and the Premodern Public Sphere in India. Columbia University Press. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-231-54241-8.
Sources edit
- Samasta Maharashtriya Brahman Potshakha (Marathi) by Dr. Abhaykumar Savaji
- Hemadri Athawa Hemadpant (Marathi) by Keshav Appa Padhye
- Maharashtra Saraswat (Marathi) by Vinayakrao Bhave
- Aitihasik Prastavana (Marathi) by Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade